Shanti Project

Shanti Project Shanti reduces isolation, enhances health and well-being, and improves quality of life.
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Founded in 1974 by Dr. Charlie Garfield at the UCSF Cancer Institute, Shanti was one of the first-ever volunteer organizations to work with terminally-ill individuals, and later became one of the very first community-based HIV/AIDS organizations in the world. Shanti has trained over 15,000 volunteers in the Bay Area and 600 organizations world-wide in the Shanti Model of Peer Support, and in the B

ay Area alone, Shanti volunteers have provided over 3 million hours of care-giving. Each year, Shanti works to enhance the quality of life, health, and well-being of people living with life-threatening and disabling illnesses, including cancer, HIV, and Hepatitis C Virus. Last year, we served over 2,100 vulnerable individuals who face some of life’s most difficult challenges, often in isolation, without compassionate or practical support. Thank you for joining us as we create a more compassionate future for all!

For 31 years, Wallace was Helen’s Pride. They built a life together filled with love, community, and countless memories....
06/25/2026

For 31 years, Wallace was Helen’s Pride. They built a life together filled with love, community, and countless memories. When Wallace passed away in 2024, the grief was overwhelming. “I became somewhat of a recluse,” Helen shared. “I felt very disconnected from Pride.”

But through loss, Helen discovered a new understanding of themself, coming out as non-binary and finding support through Shanti Project’s LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Network (LAASN).

When Helen faced some of life’s hardest moments — including saying goodbye to the cat they had shared with Wallace for 12 years — a Shanti volunteer named Danny stayed by their side. He sat with Helen at the vet's office, read aloud from *The Goodbye Book*, and reminded them that no one should have to navigate grief alone.

Later, Danny invited Helen to see a play Wallace had once taken them to years before. “That experience was profound,” Helen said. “I felt deeply connected to Wallace. I wish I got to experience it with Wallace — but I’m grateful I got to share it with Danny.”

This is what community looks like. This is what Pride looks like. Not just celebration. Not just a parade. But showing up for one another through grief, healing, identity, and connection.

As Pride Month comes to a close, the need doesn't end on June 30. Every day of the year, Shanti volunteers and staff help people facing isolation, illness, loss, and life-changing challenges find connection, support, and hope. Because everyone deserves someone beside them.

Please consider making a gift today to help ensure this work continues 365 days a year (donation link in comments).

Read Helen's full story and the other inspiring stories featured in our Faces of Pride campaign at https://www.shanti.org/our-impact/faces-of-pride/

When Mark was diagnosed with HIV during the early years of the epidemic, "I was told I wouldn't live long," he says. "So...
06/22/2026

When Mark was diagnosed with HIV during the early years of the epidemic, "I was told I wouldn't live long," he says. "So I just went with it."

After surviving a time when so many friends were lost and so much remained unknown about HIV, Mark stopped worrying about timelines. Instead, he learned to focus on what was right in front of him: one day at a time, one moment at a time.

Today, at 74, Mark continues to live with humor, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the connections that make life meaningful.

Through Shanti, Mark was matched with Peer Support Volunteer Crown. What began as a volunteer relationship grew into a genuine friendship built on laughter, companionship, and the simple act of showing up for one another.

Their story is a powerful reminder that connection matters.❤️ It helps combat isolation, strengthens community, and ensures that no one has to navigate life's challenges alone.

As part of our Faces of Pride series, we're honored to share Mark and Crown's story—and the many ways connection continues to transform lives. 🌈 Read their story, explore the full Faces of Pride series, and consider making a gift to help create more connections like this. https://www.shanti.org/our-impact/faces-of-pride/

One day at a time. One connection at a time. ❤️🏳️‍🌈

For Johana, living authentically has always required courage. After fleeing violence as a transgender woman and later be...
06/18/2026

For Johana, living authentically has always required courage. After fleeing violence as a transgender woman and later being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Johana found herself facing one of the darkest periods of her life.

Overwhelmed by depression, isolation, and suicidal thoughts, she reached out for help — a moment that led her to Shanti.

There, she met Millie, a Care Navigator who made her feel seen, supported, and safe. Through transportation assistance, home visits, support groups, and community connections, Johana began to find something she thought she had lost: hope.

“When I come to Shanti and talk with other women, I feel stronger,” Johana says. “I know I’m not alone.”

Today, Johana is not only a participant in Shanti's Spanish Health Chat group — she is also a source of strength for others navigating cancer. The compassion and dignity she received at Shanti inspired her to show up for others facing the same fears and uncertainty she once carried alone.

Now, through the Spanish Health Chat group, Johana helps create that same sense of connection she once needed most — offering encouragement, understanding, and hope to others in the midst of their own cancer journeys.

Pictured here is Johana now and then — a reflection of resilience, healing, and a life reclaimed.

Read Johana’s full story and explore the Faces of Pride series via this link: https://www.shanti.org/our-impact/faces-of-pride/

This Pride Month, your support helps ensure that people facing illness, isolation, and fear don’t have to do it alone. Consider making a gift to help us continue building connection, dignity, and care for those who need it most. ❤️🌈
https://www.shanti.org/donate/

Over the past few months, we've had the privilege of helping bring Faces of Pride to life at Shanti Project—a collection...
06/17/2026

Over the past few months, we've had the privilege of helping bring Faces of Pride to life at Shanti Project—a collection of stories from LGBTQ+ clients, volunteers, staff, and allies whose lives have been shaped by connection, community, and care. Some lived through the AIDS epidemic. Some found community after isolation. Some discovered purpose through service. All remind us what is possible when people show up for one another.

These stories are filled with perseverance, strength, vulnerability, and an unwavering commitment to living authentically and unapologetically q***r. They are a reminder that Pride is more than a celebration—it's about community, visibility, and knowing that none of us are meant to navigate life's challenges alone.

We hope you'll take a few moments to read these incredible stories: https://www.shanti.org/our-impact/faces-of-pride/ 🌈. And if these stories move you, please consider making a gift to Shanti Project. Your support helps ensure that more people facing serious illness, isolation, disability, aging, or life's most difficult challenges have someone beside them when they need it most.

Because everyone deserves connection. Everyone deserves community. And no one should have to go through life's hardest moments alone.

Happy Pride 🩷🌈

Three photos. One life. A story of courage, authenticity, and connection. A young boy in Cuba. A drag performer named Ca...
06/16/2026

Three photos. One life. A story of courage, authenticity, and connection. A young boy in Cuba. A drag performer named Catherine White. A man standing proudly beside his HIV Care Navigator, Gio.

Three photos. One life transformed by authenticity, resilience, and connection.

As a young gay man in Cuba, Nelson often had to hide who he was. But when he stepped into the persona of Catherine White, he found something powerful: freedom. Through drag, he discovered a place where he could express himself fully, embrace joy, and feel at home in his own skin.

After moving to San Francisco in 1983, Nelson finally found the community he had long dreamed of. Yet like so many others, he also experienced profound loss during the AIDS epidemic, losing friends and chosen family along the way.

For decades, Shanti Project has been part of Nelson's story. Today, that support continues through his relationship with Gio, whose care, compassion, and presence remind us that healing often begins with human connection.

"Shanti gave me that feeling again," Nelson says. "Like I belonged."

This Pride Month, we celebrate both Nelson and Catherine White — two parts of the same remarkable person whose story reminds us that everyone deserves to be seen, supported, and loved exactly as they are.

Read Nelson's full story and explore the Faces of Pride series. Then help us continue building the connections that change lives every day.

🌈 Read more: https://www.shanti.org/our-impact/faces-of-pride/
❤️ Donate: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

🌈 PRIDE IS THE POWER OF INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION🌈 At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Daralt opened his home to peop...
06/11/2026

🌈 PRIDE IS THE POWER OF INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION🌈 At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Daralt opened his home to people living with AIDS who had nowhere else to go. He raised money for Shanti, cared for friends facing unimaginable challenges, and helped many return home to be with loved ones in their final days.

Today, at 81 years old, Daralt is connected to Shanti's LGBTQ+ Aging and Abilities Support Network (LAASN), where he found an unexpected friendship with Libby, a younger LGBTQ+ volunteer.

Though separated by generations, the two quickly discovered a shared passion: music.

After a quadruple bypass surgery, Daralt found a creative outlet remixing music on his computer. What began as a hobby grew into a passion he now shares online. Libby, a former band member herself, was immediately drawn into his world of beats, samples, and remixes. What started as volunteer visits soon became weekly jam sessions filled with creativity, laughter, and genuine connection.

Their relationship is a beautiful reminder that Pride is more than a celebration of who we are—it is about community, belonging, and the bonds that connect us across generations. Through a shared love of music, Daralt and Libby found friendship, family, and joy in one another.

At Shanti, we see every day how meaningful human connection can transform lives. Daralt and Libby's story is a powerful example of what happens when people come together through shared identity, shared humanity, and an openness to learn from one another.

🎵🌈 Read their full story—and explore all of our Faces of Pride features—at: https://www.shanti.org/our-impact/faces-of-pride/

If these stories inspire you, please consider making a gift to support the life-changing connections that Shanti creates every day: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

Faces of Pride: Richard Goldman, Retired Physician Assistant, Care Navigator, and Current Member of Shanti Project’s Boa...
06/09/2026

Faces of Pride: Richard Goldman, Retired Physician Assistant, Care Navigator, and Current Member of Shanti Project’s Board of Directors

Richard Goldman's journey is one of Pride, resilience, and service. A retired Physician Assistant and Care Navigator, Richard now serves on Shanti Project's Board of Directors, helping ensure that the compassion and community that carried him through some of life's most difficult moments remain available for others.

Richard first felt a profound sense of Pride in 1972 while attending college in New York City. Newly out, he met a man named Elliot at a classical music concert. The two held hands and kissed on a city street.

"I felt so proud," Richard recalls.

Years later, Pride took on a different meaning. Following his AIDS and cancer diagnoses, Richard worried he would no longer be able to participate in the celebrations and community that had meant so much to him. During that difficult time, he was matched with Simon, a Shanti Peer Support Volunteer who ensured he didn't have to navigate those challenges alone.

In 1991, Simon accompanied Richard to Pride festivities during a time when many friends and community members had already been lost to AIDS. "It was a very emotional time," Richard remembers. "There were groups in the parade representing those living with AIDS. They represented loss, grief, and love."

The support Richard received through Shanti changed his life. After recovering, he gave back as a volunteer, support group facilitator, trainer, Care Navigator, and today, as a member of Shanti's Board of Directors.

Richard's story reminds us that Pride is more than celebration. It is community. It is showing up for one another. And sometimes, it is the presence of a single person who helps us find strength when we need it most.

To learn more about Richard and the dedicated leaders who serve on Shanti's Board of Directors, discover ways to get involved, or support our mission, visit: https://www.shanti.org/

For Ray Booth, volunteering with Shanti Project's PAWS Food Bank is about more than delivering pet food — it's about cre...
06/03/2026

For Ray Booth, volunteering with Shanti Project's PAWS Food Bank is about more than delivering pet food — it's about creating connection. One delivery brought him to a client grieving the loss of a beloved cat and hoping to find another companion animal. Ray connected the client with Shanti staff, who were able to support the request. On another visit, he was entrusted with delivering the ashes of a cherished pet. In those moments, Ray witnessed firsthand the profound bond between people and their animals.

“Each delivery is amazing. You never know who is going to show up when you bring them food,” Ray says. Through every visit, he's seen how PAWS provides more than food — it helps people maintain a source of love, comfort, and companionship during life's most difficult times.

This Pride Month, we celebrate volunteers like Ray, whose commitment reflects the spirit of community, compassion, and human connection. “In a time that feels cold and cruel, this is ground level. It's doing things for people to make their lives easier.” ❤️🏳️‍🌈

To learn more about Shanti Project's programs and services, volunteer opportunities, and ways to donate, visit: https://www.shanti.org/

Faces of Pride is a collection of stories celebrating the LGBTQ+ clients, volunteers, and allies who make up the Shanti ...
06/01/2026

Faces of Pride is a collection of stories celebrating the LGBTQ+ clients, volunteers, and allies who make up the Shanti Project community. At the heart of each story is the power of connection—the belief that no one should have to navigate life's challenges alone—and the ways community, authenticity, and belonging help us carry one another through life's most difficult moments and greatest joys.

Our first Faces of Pride story features former Shanti volunteer John Emmons, who moved to San Francisco in 1985 feeling called to serve those living through the AIDS epidemic. Through Shanti, he was paired with two clients, Joe and Charles, who would become much more than volunteer assignments—they became friends, teachers, and part of the community that shaped his life.

One memory has stayed with him for nearly 40 years: attending Pride with Joe, surrounded by music, celebration, and a city bursting with color. While the crowds celebrated, Joe was quietly carrying the uncertainty of living with AIDS. In that moment, John saw what Pride meant for so many during that era—a chance to find joy, connection, and belonging even when the future felt unknown.

Joe and Charles both passed away in the early 1990s, but the lessons they left behind never did. John's story reminds us that Pride is not only about celebration. It is also about remembrance, resilience, and the people who choose to show up for one another when it matters most. 🌈

To learn more about Shanti Project, its programs and services, and ways to support our work, visit: https://www.shanti.org/

Photo captions (left to right): John Emmons, former Shanti Project volunteer who began serving clients in the 1980s and now lives in Oakland; Joe (top right) pictured with his partner, Mark, at a birthday celebration; Charles (bottom right) at a Pride celebration in San Francisco in the late 1980s, before his passing in 1991.

Mary K. spends most of her days at home, navigating isolation and anxiety—but she’s never alone. By her side is Sugar, h...
04/15/2026

Mary K. spends most of her days at home, navigating isolation and anxiety—but she’s never alone. By her side is Sugar, her 13-year-old white poodle and constant source of joy. When Mary talks about Sugar, her voice lights up. And when Sugar sees Mary, she jumps with pure excitement. Their bond is everything.

But without support, their story could look very different.

Because of limited mobility and financial resources, Mary wouldn’t be able to care for Sugar on her own—and Sugar, a senior dog with ongoing health needs, would be at risk of entering a shelter.

Through Shanti Project's PAWS program (Pets Are Wonderful Support), that outcome is prevented. PAWS ensures Sugar stays right where she belongs:
🐾 Nutritious food delivered each month
🐾 Daily walks from dedicated volunteers (and plenty of “sniff time”)
🐾 Coordinated veterinary care and transportation to appointments

Mary often says she wouldn’t be able to care for her “beautiful baby” without PAWS. Because of this support, Sugar is still at home—safe, loved, and thriving. And Mary isn’t facing life’s hardest moments alone.

This is what connection looks like.❤️😍. To find out more about Shanti Project's programs and services, go to: https://www.shanti.org/ . To support our programs and help ensure no one faces life’s most difficult moments alone, consider making a donation, becoming a monthly donor, or giving a matching gift: https://www.shanti.org/donate/

Address

27 Maiden Lane
San Francisco, CA
94108

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14156744700

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